The European Commission is reportedly looking to create a single energy market which is based on cross-border connections to improve security of supply and to cut its dependence on Russia, which supplies around one third of the European Union’s (EU) energy, Reuters reports, citing a drafted document on the matter.
According to Reuters, the EU is considering “reframing” its energy relations with Russia “when the time is right” and is focusing — for the time being — on building a strategic gas partnership with Ukraine, a draft document shows.
“When the conditions are right, the EU will consider reframing the energy relationship with Russia based on a level playing field in terms of market opening, fair competition, environmental protection and safety, for the mutual benefit of both sides,” a draft of the Energy Union Package seen by Reuters says.
For now, the draft says that particular attention will focus on upgrading “the strategic partnership on energy” with Ukraine as a transit country, in addition to improving infrastructure and Ukraine’s energy efficiency to reduce its dependence on imports, according to Reuters.
Russia has held a long-standing gas relation with the EU and Ukraine, and provides the primary transit route for Russian gas to the EU, however relations have deteriorated since Russia’s seizure of Ukraine’s Crimea region last year.
This week, the Commission is expected to formally publish its strategy on an energy union, Reuters noted.
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